WILLMAR -- A strong Rochester team knocked Ridgewater College out of the title picture Saturday 53-49 on the Lady Warriors' home court.
The Lady Warriors played in the MCCC third-place game for the second year in a row. This time they faced Southern Division rival Minnesota West on Sunday afternoon, losing 64-53.
Ridgewater played its best basketball of the year while knocking off MCCC defending champion Itasca in the quarterfinals and then against No. 2 South seed Rochester on Saturday evening.
"We worked hard," said freshman forward Hilary Groothuis after the four-point loss to the Yellowjackets. "We missed some shots at the end, but we played a lot better as a team, especially running plays."
Semifinals
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Rochester 53, Ridgewater 49
In a rematch of last year's third-place game at the state tournament, the Lady Warriors bolted to the front 9-2, prompting Yellowjackets' coach Steve Hucke to scream for a time out.
The Yellowjackets chipped away. A three-pointer by Kasie Heimer shrunk the Willmar lead to one point, 24-23, and then with :03 left, Heimer put in a rebound for a 25-24 Rochester lead at the break.
Rochester forged a 44-34 lead at 8:35 of the second half, but Ridgewater fought back with good ball movement, takeaways and defensive rebounding, especially Groothuis with nine, Ashley Olson with five and Kayla Karnes with four.
Karnes played another splendid game as she approached the end of her two-year career here.
The guard from New London-Spicer handed out eight assists, made three steals and was not charged with a turnover while also scoring nine points.
Ridgewater reserve center Krystle Prodoehl scored her only points of the game on a turnaround that got the Lady Warriors within two, 48-46, with three minutes left. But after a steal by Kristen Hegna, Prodoehl missed two free throws that could have tied it and Rochester's 6-2 all-state post Brittney Gladis swished a baseline three-pointer at the two-minute mark for a 51-46 lead.
With 1:14 remaining, Gladis hit two free throws for a 53-46 margin. Karnes hit a three-pointer with a minute left, but that would end the scoring for both teams.
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"That is the best we've played continuously as a team," said Ridgewater head coach Carrie Ogdahl. "We missed some shots here and there and 3-for-8 on free throws is not good, but playing for third place two years in a row is something these girls can be proud of."
Melissa Sterkel led Ridgewater with 13 points. Heimer finished with 19 for Rochester.
Rochester (20-8) 25 28 -- 53
Ridgewater (12-14) 24 25 -- 49
ROCHESTER - 19-55 FG (6-17 3-pt); 9-12 FT; 36 rebounds; 12 fouls ... Scoring: Chelsea Jajowka 1-4 2-2 4, Courtney Thompson 1-3 0-1 2, Whitney Labrash 0-0 1-2 1, Kasi Heimer 8-15 2-3 19, Trisha Peterson 4-11 2-2 12, Lisa Bicknese 1-2 0-0 2, Brittney Gladis 4-15 2-2 13 ... 3-point shots: Gladis 3-5, Peterson 2-5, Heimer 1-1 ... Rebound leaders: Gladis 12, Heimer 8, Bicknese 5 ... Assist leader: Peterson 4 ... Steal leaders: Gladis 2, Peterson 2
RIDGEWATER - 22-56 FG (2-7 3-pt); 3-8 FT; 37 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Kayla Karnes 4-7 0-0 9, Ashley Olson 4-12 0-0 8, Bridget Boehlke 0-0 0-0 0, Melissa Sterkel 5-10 3-4 13, Hilary Groothuis 5-14 0-2 10, Karen Christopher 3-7 0-0 7, Krystle Prodoehl 1-2 0-2 2 ... 3-point shots: Christopher 1-2, Karnes 1-3 ... Rebound leaders: Groothuis 9, Olson 5, Karnes 4 ... Assist leader: Karnes 8 ... Steal leaders: Karnes 3, Sterkel 2, Kristen Hegna 2
Third place
MN West 63, Ridgewater 54
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Stacy Bush, a 5-6 freshman from Hills, led the the Bluejays to the third-place win with 29 points. Hilary Groothuis finished with 14 points and Ashley Olson 12 for Ridgewater.
After the teams totaled 32 points in a sluggish first half, 85 points were added to the scoreboard the second half.
Minnesota West (12-17) -- 63
Ridgewater (12-15) -- 54
MINNESOTA WEST - 23-58 FG (4-24 3-pt); 13-17 FT; 38 rebounds; 15 fouls ... Scoring: Amanda Nash 1-4 0-0 3, Tarryn Jansen 3-5 0-0 6, Paige Bergeland 1-1 0-0 2, Stacy Bush 10-22 8-10 29, Rosie Lewis 2-4 1-2 5, Brittney Williams 3-11 3-3 10, Jacinta Boever 3-8 1-2 8 ... 3-point shots: Boever 1-4, Nash 1-4, Williams 1-6, Bush 1-8 ... Rebound leader: Boever 7 ... Assist leader: Bush 5... Steal leader: Boever 5
RIDGEWATER - 21-59 FG (4-14 3-pt); 8-16 FT; 42 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Kayla Karnes 3-8 2-4 9, Ashley Olson 5-14 1-2 12, Melissa Sterkel 1-3 5-8 7, Melissa Sterkel 1-3 5-6 7, Hilary Groothuis 7-8 0-4 14, Karen Christopher 3-8 0-0 8, Krystle Prodoehl 2-5 0-0 4 ... 3-point shots: Christopher 2-6, Olson 1-1, Karnes 1-5 ... Rebound leaders: Groothuis 9, Sterkel 9, Olson 6, Prodoehl 4 ... Assist leaders: Karnes 5, Ballard 4 ... Steal leaders: Karnes 3, Groothuis 2, Kristen Hegna 2
